Say hey, baseball: Please sign James Shields

Listen, we know it's tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day, and trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk isn't easy. It's okay, though, we're going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end.

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Pitchers and catchers are supposed to report to spring training in about two and a half weeks' time. Most free agents are signed, most of the trades that will occur before the season starts have been completed, and most budgets have been spent. And yet, James Shields, the third-best pitcher available as a free agent this offseason, remains on the market. No one seems clear on whether this is the doing of Shields and his agent, or if it's the teams who could sign him that are to blame, but we do know that it's tiresome. Would someone, anyone, just sign this dude already?

The rumored $110 million offer that Shields had -- and turned down -- supposedly scared off many interested teams, who then went in other directions. Now, you have sources telling Buster Olney that if Shields can get a three-year deal for significant money with an option for a fourth, it should be "seriously considered." That would be a major departure from what Shields looked like he was going to get when the offseason began. but even this might not exist. The teams who still seem to be the most interested in Shields are the ones who can't afford him. The Blue Jays don't have enough budget left in 2015, though, they will for 2016 once Mark Buehrle's $20 million salary comes off the books. The White Sox are in sort of a similar situation, except they might want to try to re-sign Jeff Samardzija rather than let him walk in a year, which would take them right out on Shields. The Padres would be a fit since they are now spending more than they used to, they might prefer to use that money on someone younger and trade for Cole Hamels and his contract.

The Marlins are a longshot for a number of reasons, but if Shields' options are to sit at home or sign with Miami, you would have to think he'd give the Marlins' offer serious consideration. A suggestion to offer Shields a two-year, $35 million deal in lieu of something in the four-year, $70 million range he's apparently working in now isn't a bad idea at all: there is a good chance he says no, but the Marlins can keep the door open for that one even if he does. If Shields can't find work elsewhere throughout February, maybe he changes his mind.

If nothing else, it's an offer, and Shields doesn't seem to be getting any of those from anyone.

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